In my day, school administrators threw fits over baggy jeans hanging below the hip. Now the kids are running around in their tight pants, and it’s causing all sorts of mayhem in one North Carolina school district, I guess.
A proposed policy from New Hanover County Schools would ban tight jeans and leggings unless students wear a top or dress that “covers the posterior area in its entirety.” Anyone caught breaking the rule will be forced to change clothes. Anyone caught breaking it repeatedly faces out-of-school suspension.
New Hanover County School Board Vice Chair Jeannette Nichols told WECT the new policy was proposed because “bigger girls” were getting bullied for wearing tight jeans.
WECT TV6-WECT.com:News, weather & sports Wilmington, NC
The school district tweeted students, asking them what they thought of the possible near-ban. The results were pretty great.
@NewHanoverCoSch pic.twitter.com/vpGWdsdBdy
— macey (@maceyaustin_) May 16, 2016
@NewHanoverCoSch pic.twitter.com/B9ldyWdq3c
— Bryjyt Jones (: (@bryjyt_jones) May 16, 2016
@NewHanoverCoSch #policy8520 skinny jeans, leggings, and dresses are not the reason that your students aren’t doing well in school
— mAkAylA (@Crispy_Tips) May 16, 2016
#policy8520 @NewHanoverCoSch Im sorry. Everything fits tight. I have thighs. Sorry. Oh no. SO WHAT. MY SCHOOL IS FALLING APART. FIX THAT.
— Śąm Łėwįś (@Sam_J_Lew) May 16, 2016
@NewHanoverCoSch I only own 3 pairs of jeans & they’re all tight fitting. I wear leggings 4/5 days because they’re comfortable & convenient.
— Foot™ (@toastyhan) May 16, 2016
@NewHanoverCoSch #policy8520 is very gender biased. It’s our job as parents to monitor, not the schools.
— Amy Koresko (@akoresko) May 16, 2016
#Policy8520 NHC parent here: if bullying is the impetus, do a better job of teaching the kids to be nice. Don’t tell them how to dress.
— chrisfurner (@chrisfurner) May 17, 2016
Students: Thank you for your feedback on proposed changes to Student Dress Code #policy8520. Responsible comments will be shared w/Board.
— New Hanover Co Sch (@NewHanoverCoSch) May 17, 2016
Though the policy is ostensibly gender neutral, it’s more likely to affect girls since they tend to wear tight pants more often than boys.
Lisa Estep, a school board member, confirmed to WECT that they still have to vote on the issue, but promised student input would partially shape the final policy. If passed, the rule will be enforced starting next school year.
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